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Sheriff's Department Makes Four Arrests After Discovery of Two Meth Labs

March 18, 2013

by:

Dwayne Page

The discovery of two meth labs at a Smithville residence has led to the arrests of four people by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department.

30 year old Joseph Huff Ray of Snow Street; 44 year old Melissa Darlene Woods of Florence, Alabama; 39 year old Jeffery Lynn Sanders of Lincoln Street; and 42 year old Anthony Lynn Colwell of McMinnville are all charged with initiation of a process intended to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine. All are under a $50,000 bond and they will be in court on different dates in March, April, and May

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, March 12, a drug detective of the sheriff's department saw Colwell and his girlfriend Woods outside a residence where Ray was staying at 719 Snow Street. Colwell and Woods got a bag out of her Jeep and Colwell took it across the street and placed it behind a block wall. Inside the bag was a plastic bottle, also known as a one pot, along with other components used in the manufacture of meth. Both Colwell and Woods were placed under arrest and Woods' jeep was seized by the sheriff's department.

As the drug detective was attempting to make contact with the owner of the residence, he saw Sanders in the kitchen holding a yellow bag. After obtaining consent to search the premises, the drug detective found the yellow bag Sanders had held. It was hidden in the couch. The bag contained several pseudoephedrine pills. The detective conducted a pat down search of Sanders and found on him several coffee filters.

A search of the room where Ray had been staying turned up a black leather bag that contained a glass pyrex dish, lighter fluid, turkey baster, ph strips, and assorted tools. Also in the room was a plastic bottle, known as a one pot that is used to cook meth. Ray admitted that the components in the room belonged to him.

32 year old Joseph Robert Loff of Sparta is charged with criminal impersonation. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, March 14 a sheriff's department drug detective made a traffic stop on Highway 70 in Dowelltown. The driver, Loff told the officer that his name was Robert James Loff and that his birth date was December 16, 1981. He did not have any identification on his person. The drug detective noticed a Region's bank card in the name of Joseph R. Loff. After a further investigation, it was determined that Loff had given the detective his brother's name. Loff's actual birth date is September, 16 1980. Loff said the reason he didn't give his real name is because he did not have a drivers license.

27 year old Michael Andrew Snyders of Smithville is charged with domestic assault and aggravated assault. He was also issued a citation for simple possession of a schedule III drug (subutex) and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (xanax). His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, March 15, a deputy responded to a residence on Dry Creek Road to investigate a possible physical domestic. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to a woman who said that Snyders became very angry and began assaulting her because she was on the phone. The officer saw that the woman had bruising and redness around her face and neck. She said Snyders had put her in a headlock and punched her. He broke her phone and porch light and he stomped on her right foot causing it to swell. It was determined that Snyders was the primary aggressor and he was placed under arrest. During the assault, the woman's children, an eight year old and four year old were also assaulted. The eight year old told the deputy that Snyders grabbed her around the neck with his arm and squeezed it. She had redness around her throat area. Snyders also alleged fell on the four year old child. While talking to the officers, Snyders dropped a small bronze container, which held a blue oblong pill believed to be xanax and a quarter of a white pill believed to be subutex.

29 year old Carl Edward Schwartz is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court April 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 16, a drug detective of the sheriff's department saw a truck behind Eastside Citgo with its lights on and the engine running. The store was closed. The detective stopped to check the vehicle and made contact with a man behind the wheel, Schwartz. The officer noticed a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and his speech was very slurred. Schwartz submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. He submitted to a blood test. Schwartz had a prior DUI February 5, 2010 in Michigan.

26 year old Juan Pablo Serrano of Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 16 a deputy was called to King Ridge Road to check on a man who was going to homes knocking on doors causing an alarm. The deputy made contact with the man, Serrano, who was very unsteady on his feet. He had slurred speech. Serrano had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Several attempts were made to have someone come and get him but no one came. Due to his actions, his level of intoxication and for the safety of the public, Serrano was placed under arrest.

33 year old Kasey Lee Frazier of Baxter is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on April 3. Frazier was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia (syringe). Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 16, a deputy was called to a residence on Sunny Point Road to investigate a physical domestic. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with all parties involved. It was determined that Frazier was the primary aggressor. A woman said that Frazier began arguing with someone else at the residence and that she tried to stop it. Frazier got mad, shoved her down, and began hitting her. The assault continued outside. She said Frazier held her down with his knee on her throat and hit her in the face with his fist. She had a red mark on her neck and on her left cheek around an eye. Frazier was arrested. A pat down search was performed and found in his pocket was a used hypodermic needle.

43 year old Robert Lee Ried is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, March 17, Ried was picked up in DeKalb County as a fugitive from justice out of the state of Missouri where he is wanted by the Phelps County Sheriff's Department for a felony bad check charge. Missouri authorities plan to seek extradition of Ried